Tag Archives: Dirk Nowitzki

Huge win for the Warriors in what can aptly be described as the first playoff game of the season. Both teams desperately needed this game.

The game was so big, that Mark Jackson actually let the Warriors play. He is, in general, a much better coach when his big man options are limited. But he’s also to be credited for limiting the isolation offense in this game, and trusting his great passing team to create.

One big only, Draymond Green at the four.

Early offense.

Limited isolations.

Pick and roll after pick and roll after pick and roll. Relentless, all game long. (Wouldn’t it be nice to see this with David Lee playing?)

I’ve figured out how to recap Warriors games going forward: Ignore the coaching, and focus on the players. There’s just so much teeth gnashing I’m willing to do, and, I assume, you’re willing to read. It is completely clear by now that Jackson is committed to playing big all game every game. Even if it means denying his core of supernaturally talented offensive players the system they were born to play in. Even if it means feeding the best-shooting team in the league 16 point first quarters and 22 point third quarters, regardless of opponent, from now until eternity. Even if it means reaching for an NBA reject big man in his first game up from the D-League, without an ounce of experience in his system, to match up with a 6-7″ center on defense, and plug up the middle on offense, in crunchtime.

Mark Jackson is committed, as Adam Lauridsen would ecstatically put it, to playing “the right way.” It’s pointless to argue differently. It’s time for me, as the adage has it, to “lay back and think of England.”

And Thank Jesus for Stephen Curry.

Oops, reading over that, I see a little recap of the coaching leaked out.

I have already predicted that the Miami Heat will win the championship, and as great as the Dallas Mavericks have performed so far in these playoffs, I don’t see any reason to change my mind. Here are my reasons: Continue reading →

This is a very good Dallas Mavericks team. They are definitely a better team than last year’s squad, that got blown out on their home floor by a 6-man Warriors squad of rookies and D-leaguers playing all-out Nellieball. They might even be a better team than the 67 game-winning, #1 seed in the NBA that Don Nelson blew out in the playoffs, playing all-out Nellieball. The reason is Tyson Chandler. He gets up and down, and does a lot to erase the defensive deficiencies of Nowitzki, and Terry, and Monsieur Beaubois, and Senor Barea, and the ancient Jason Kidd…